2010/10/27

Shanghai World Expo breaks million mark for visitors in a single day, first time officials discourage visitors [from attending]

October 16th, single-day admissions to the Shanghai World Expo's reached 1,032,700 visitors, breaking the 1970 record set by the Osaka World Expo. Popular pavilions like the Oil Pavilion had a waiting line of 12 hours while the Saudi Arabia Pavilion line required 8 hours. Because the number of visitors had far exceeded the 600k design limit, officials discouraged visitors from attending for the first time.

[Click images for larger versions.]

October 16th, with the World Expo grounds packed with visitors, conflicts occurred in the waiting lines. As of 9pm on the 16th, the number of admissions to the Shanghai World Expo had reached 1,032,700 visitors, breaking the 1970 record set by the Osaka World Expo. Popular pavilions like the Oil Pavilion had a waiting line of 12 hours while the Saudi Arabia Pavilion line required 8 hours. World Expo organizers stated that 600,000 visitors is the design limit for the Expo grounds, and as a result of the number of visitors exceeding expectations yesterday, officials for the first time adopted the measure of dissuading visitors from attending.

October 16th, the Expo Axis was bursting at the seams on both levels. October 16th was Day 169 for the Shanghai World Expo, as well as China'S Chongyang Festival. That day, the weather in Shanghai was good and clear, and tourists poured onto the Expo grounds. From 9am till 12 noon, there was a nonstop rush of visitors entering the grounds. By 12 noon, the number of admissions for the day had already broken 700,000, with the following 3 hours seeing the number of admissions continuing to climb all the way up past 800,000 and the important 900,000 mark.

October 16th, a tourist/visitor waiting in line at the Saudi Arabia Pavilion takes a photograph of the crowds. "600k" visitors was the previous "absolute most visitors" anticipated by Expo organizers. Shanghai Communist Party Secretary Yu Zhengsheng had also previously stated that the World Expo grounds were designed for an average of 400k people, and a max of 600k. "Too many people and the facilities will not be able to accommodate the number of people". Because of this, and with the number of visitors far exceeding expectations on the 16th, Expo organizes adopted for the first time the measure of discouraging people from visiting.

October 16th, visitors at the Asia Square watch an artistic performance. At noon that day, as visitors who rode the Expo buses and subway all noticed, the television screens on the buses and subway cars repeatedly broadcast well-intentioned reminders to visitors to "choose another day to visit" and "visit the expo on a day with less demand". Following that, the number of admissions in the afternoon continued to shoot up with 20 to 30 thousand people per hour. At around 4pm, Expo organizers' reminders changed from "distributing visitors" [to different parts of the the Expo] to "discouraging visitors" [from attending the Expo], directly notifying "relevant departments to remind visitors to stop heading to the Expo grounds today".

October 16th, visitors waiting in line to see the China Pavilion.

October 16th, the World Expo grounds packed with visitors.

October 16th, the World Expo grounds were filled with crowds.

October 16th, the observation deck at the Nepal Pavilion packed with visitors.

October 16th, the flow of people in the World Expo grounds.

October 16th, the World Expo Special Line 13 brought in a large amount of visitors.

October 16th, long lines at the mobile restrooms in the Expo grounds.

October 16th, visitors taking a break in the Shanghai World Expo grounds.

October 16th, a shot of the waves of people in the Expo grounds taken from the Lupu Bridge.

October 16th, the World Expo grounds parking lots packed full of parked buses.

October 16th, even after night falls, the Expo grounds were still crowded.

October 16th at night, the number of people in line remained high.

October 16th night, the World Expo grounds were packed full of visitors.

October 16th at 6pm, the Shanghai World Expo Operation Center's big display shows: The number of World Expo visitors had already broken past the 1 million mark. At the same time, the cumulative total number of visitors had reached 64,589,600 people.

Comments from NetEase:

网易墨西哥网友:

The World Expo is made to sound great, but once you're inside, there's actually not much to see, except maybe people! Even places to sit are hard to find.

网易上海市浦东新区网友:

In China, anything could happen. Yet another miracle.

网易河北石家庄网友:

What brother goes to look at is not the World Expo, but beautiful girls.

网易江苏南京网友:

Seeing these photographs, I'm truly speechless. Here in Jiangsu, the vast majority of companies/organizations are required to attend and must organized groups to go. See the number on the photo? Just to reach that 70 million figure [the estimated number of visitors for the World Expo to "break even"]? Is it necessary to make the World Expo into a queuing/lining-up exercise for the entire country? With so many people packed there, what can they see? Even if something is seen, what will be remembered in that kind of mood? Other than queues/lines, probably still just queues/lines. Is this kind of event organizing a product of a planned economy?

网易上海徐汇网友:

Getting that many people, [but in the end] it is just a number. Getting yet another world number 1, [but] what is the quality of the experience? No one is considering that.

网易江苏苏州网友:

Chinese people just love to have face…Just how many people truly wanted to go see the World Expo? Isn't it all about how so and so went to the Expo yesterday, and how another so and so went to the Expo the day before…so if one doesn't go, then one feels they have no face? [This thinking is] too outdated… To be honest, sitting at home watching television is still more comfortable, really…

网易上海网友:

SB Hui is indeed SB Hui. [In Chinese, The World Expo is called "世博会" or "Shi Bo Hui", and many netizens have taken to calling it the SB Hui, but of course SB also has another meaning. So, the joke here is that the "stupid cunt gathering" is indeed a "stupid cunt gathering" referring to all of the people who go to suffer the crowds, lines, and waiting times.]

网易火星网友:

That everything will soon be dismantled/demolished is such a pity and so unreasonable [the World Expo will end at the End of October, after 6 months]. [Think of] how many citizens have yet to see the World Expo?

网易广东深圳南山网友:

Too frightening, 1 million. Now that I think about it, the 400k when it first opened was nothing.

网易中国网友:

If one were there selling fast food and drinks~~ I think one would become a millionaire in under a month.

网易河南洛阳网友:

Fortunately I already went in in June. Then, there were around 300k visitors every day, and I already though there were quite a lot of people, but now with 1 million…truly difficult to imagine.

The following is a list that began circulating on popular Chinese social network Kaixin001 on the 16th…

From Kaixin001:

2010 October 16th, Shanghai World Expo breaks million mark for visitors in a single day, various situation highlights…

1. Ladies and gentlemen, what are you still waiting for? As long as you set out now, there is a chance for you to become today's Meat/Flesh Expo's 1 millionth visitor. Not 100 thousandth, not 500 thousandth, but 1 millionth visitor! So no more talk, so take your normal day ticket, discount ticket, scheduled ticket, or night time ticket, and hurry and join the battle!

2. Seven hundred thousand has been broken. Staff and volunteer personnel have begun to slowly get excited. They are running and shuttling back and forth, in the middle of all the human flesh enjoying the delight of being squashed.

3. As of 2:30pm, there are a total of 80 countries in the world whose populations are less than the number of people inside the Expo grounds.

4. There are now 800k people in the World Expo grounds, and now we finally know how magnificent Cao Cao's 800k large army was during the Battle of Red Cliff.

5. Witnessed today was a spectacular moment of the World Expo, unusually incredible… already 900k by 3pm, not discounting the people who are going to go now to be part of the 1 million…

6. As of 5:30pm, there are a total of about 141 countries in the world whose populations are less than the number of people inside the Expo grounds.

7. I hear a broadcast in a Line 2 Metro station saying "All visitors heading to the World Expo grounds, please do not enter the Expo grounds"…Please note that this was Line 2, not the Expo Line! Then I also saw that within 10 minutes, there were 2000 more people [who had entered the Expo grounds].

8. [I] truly wanted to softly insert the ticket [into the ticketing gate], slowly take it out, and shout: "Contributing to 1 million!" But in the end, I resplendently turned around and went home to sleep.

9. Historical record: 1949 April 21 ~ 1949 June 2, War of Liberation, millions of men cross the Yangtze River; Historical record: 2010 October 16 ~ 2010 October 16, Meat/Flesh Expo War, millions of men cross the Huangpu River… Today, I have seen several lifetimes worth of people of different backgrounds…in the future, those who want to see me must have an appointment/reservation ticket.

10. The last country to stuff 1 million people within 5 square kilometers was Nazi Germany…

11. One visitor asked: Where is the exit? Me: Which exit? Visitor: Doesn't matter, I simply want to get out. Such desperation…

12. Today…did the almanac say today was an auspicious day to go to the World Expo grounds? ~~ Orz…

14. Now that the World Expo has reached 1 million [visitors], I suddenly want to go to the World Expo, not to look at the pavilions, but to look at the people…

15. Every "cabbage" [nickname for the Expo volunteers] should be given a sign, on it written: "Waiting time before 'cabbage' responds to your question is 30 minutes!" [A joke about the waiting time in line for many of the pavilions].

16. From this day forward, the most crowded place is not Beijing, not Tokyo, not Hong Kong, and definitely not Shanghai, but the World Expo grounds.

17. Seeing that rising red line [a graph measuring visitors] at the World Expo Operations Center rising, my old man calmly said, if only the stock market was like this.

18. "What is the fastest way to get to Pudong [side of the Expo]?" "Swim across!"

19. My delight right now is to check every half hour the World Expo Operations Center announcement of the number of people who have entered the grounds today. Even the stock market has never risen like this before~

20. The crowds are in front of your eyes, the pavilions are outside of the crowds…

21. At present, there are 3000 Right-Wingers surrounding the Chinese Embassy causing trouble! May the 1 million strong army of the World Expo please relocate the battle to the Japanese Consulate!

22. This morning I was still discussing whether it would be 700k or 750k; While eating lunch, I was betting whether it would be 750k or 800k; Getting out of school in the afternoon, I was thinking how breaking 1 million is just a matter of time; Returning to campus at night, everything was just passing clouds, deciding what to eat for dinner~~

23. Today I saw a spectacle that I have never seen before: 1. A line formed at the Pacific Pavilion. 2. Zone B03 became as crowded as Zone C. 3. I could no longer see the "little cabbages" on duty around me. 4. Over ten people asked me questions at the same time.

24. Wasn't 750k said to be a good day…?

25. Zone A03′s spectacular event today: The line for hot water at the G08 Information Desk reached the United Arab Emirates line~ The United Arab Emirates line surpassed the Israel line~ The Israel line reached the Saudi Arabia line~ The Saudi Arabia line exceeded the Expo Axis… breaking the 1 million mark and whatever are all just passing clouds…

26. "Hello, may I ask what would be the best place to go after looking at this pavilion?" "Turn left, walk 5 minutes, #3 exit."

27. A "little cabbage" that has experienced 900k [visitors] was calm. As a result of a problem with the proportion of men's toilets in the Expo grounds, a line that reached outside formed. = =

28. 6 hour lines were no longer for Saudi Arabia, Japan, Korea, but for Thailand…THAILAND…

29. Before when there were only 190k people I did not cherish, and now it is too late for me to repent.

30. Heartily celebrate me fighting my way back from 1 million people!

31. Witnessing the miracle, the Oil Pavilion line was 12 hours, the China Aviation Pavilion line was 7 hours, the ferry line was 3 hours, the line for the cross-river bus was 2 hours, the metro line was 1.5 hours, and the toilet "pavilion" line was half an hour…

32. Sister [referring to self] can be said to have seen a World Expo "cabbage" now…

33. Stop asking how to get to Pudong [from the Puxi side of the Expo grounds] faster, it is 1 hour on the metro, 2 and a half hours by bus, 3 hours by ferry, and 15 minutes by swimming…

34. Today's World Expo pavilion waiting lines exceeding two hours include: World Expo Cross River Bus… [the joke is that it is not a pavilion but it still has a really long wait time.]

35. The Cross River Bus's [waiting lines] can be compared to the ark [Noak's Ark, or the arks in 2012].

36. Welcome, visitors, to the 2010 China Massive Population Expo…

37. At the World Expo, it is truly possible to be in a line for half the day. The Oil Pavilion's promotional slogan is "One pavilion a day, Happy Chongyang Festival!"

38. To experience China's population, please visit the Expo today.

Have you gone to the Shanghai World Expo yet? How was your experience?

Collection of post 90′s generation students sleeping in class positions; take a look and see which poses you made while in school

Boring StyleNovelty Factor: 1/5Normally this posture can be commonly seen during a class with a teacher speaking with a tedious, monotonous tone. Students who have listened to the entire lesson/lecture will become so bored that they will have gnawed their pencil eraser to bits.

What this body posture is saying: Your class is really boring.

Classic StyleRarity Factor: 1/5Equivalent to a basic, classic style that allows one to fall asleep easily; however, the trouble [factor] is not high because [the student] is afraid that the teacher will see them sometimes in this position and become greatly angry.

What this body posture is saying: Teacher, I am very tired.

Disdain StyleNovelty Factor: 2/5Students who do well [with high marks] and don't need to listen to the lesson can be often be seen in this very lazy pose in which their body language shows them to be full of [smug] self-confidence.

What this body posture is saying: Whatever you say/ask of me, I can do/know the answer to.

Prayer StyleNovelty Factor: 2/5With fingers of both hands clasped together as if in prayer, this type of sleep posture clearly says one thing:

"Teacher, I beg you to quickly dismiss class soon, okay?

Dejected StyleNovelty Factor: 2/5Don't understand the lesson, at the point of crying tears of mourning, transition automatically into this sleeping position.

Body Language: Listening, but still not understanding.

Ostrich StyleNovelty Factor: 2/5It can be seen from this sleeping posture, that a person who lacks a sense of security and is conflicted by wanting to sleep yet at the same time is afraid of being caught will naturally adopt this posture.

Body language: You can't see me, you can't see me…

Beauty StyleNovelty Factor: 3/5Normally the girls who attend class without any interest in it, like for example those preoccupied with boys on their minds, can adopt this emotionally-laden pose.

Body Language: My good brother, you are slow and dull-witted.

Boss StyleNovelty Factor: 3/5In general, those who don't look mean/evil enough will find it difficult to have the courage to sleep like this, its level of disrespect to [the teacher] can only make others shake their heads [in dismay].

Body Language: I fucking want to sleep, what business is it of your's?

Double StyleNovelty Factor: 4/5In my personal experience and opinion, if this kind of sleeping position appears, then it can no longer be called "attending class". Two people completely ignoring the teacher sputtering away in toil at the front of the class, this level of disrespecting the teacher to a level paramount to destroying her ancestors.

Body Language: One on each side and feelings will last.

Triple StyleNovelty Factor: 4/5Were it not for the good disposition of the teacher [to allow this behavior] then these valuable students would be considered too mischievous. When wanting to sleep the students will even form large groups rather than gathering together to resist having this feeling, and by paying no heed to the respect of their teacher/elder they can already even be called having "burned the books and buried alive Confucian scholars" [an allusion to the first emperor of China, Qin Shi Huang (259-210 BC), who destroyed historical documents and suppressed/murdered scholars out of fear his reign would be compromised if compared with earlier kings.]

Body Language: Three people sleeping, must piss off the teacher.

The PillowNovelty Factor: 4/5This type of behavior could described as defiant. Disregarding the rules and sleeping is one thing, but going so far as to attempt building a cozy sleeping environment? This already exceeds what normal people people can understand/accept.

Body Language: Good pillow, no worries.

Table StyleNovelty Factor: 5/5Simply going too far, putting the desks together to sleep on them, sleeping freely as if one were at home, no concerns at all, the teacher standing at the front of the class having completely lost her position [of authority and respect in the eyes of the student].

Body Language: If sleeping then sleep, and sleep well.

[Word Bubbles - Teacher: Student, wake up!]

Standing StyleNovelty Factor: 7/5This posture already far exceeds the intended purpose of ordinary sleeping postures, standing like this proclaims: "I'm not tired, but I'm still going to sleep." A teacher seeing this kind of student, after being horrified and rendered speechless, presumably can only shake her head and sigh, and helplessly just continue with the lesson.

70-year-old lady delivers water to support entire family, children and grandchildren suffer serious illnesses

70-year-old Gao Meiyun, in order to support the entire family and pay for her son and grandson's medical care, must repeat these steps every day nearly 100 times. A 20kg bottle of water before this 37.5kg elderly person is truly too heavy. In order to support her physically handicapped son and mentally handicapped grandsom, 70-year-old Gao Meiyun alone shoulders the burden of financially supporting the entire family. To make a living, she opened a water store, becoming the well-known "Water Delivery Granny" in a neighborhood of [Beijing's] Shijingshan District Yangzhuang Middle District. Every day, the morning and evenings are the peak hours. It doesn't matter if it is 6 in the morning or 10 at night, no matter if it is windy or raining, as long as a customer calls, the old lady will immediately deliver the water to their door. Transporting [water] over time has caused her back to become severely hunched. The old lady has written a letter to this newspaper seeking kind-hearted peoples' help, help to provide medical care to her son and grandson, to help them get past this difficult time. Readers who want to help can call this newspaper's hotline at 58635863 to register, and we will quickly get in touch with you.

From NetEase:

70-year-old lady swindled

Summary: 70-year-old granny Gao depends on delivering bottled water to support her physically handicapped son and mentally handicapped grandson. After her circumstances were reported by the media, kind-hearted city residents donated over 100,000 yuan within three days. However, her neighbors have instead accused her of "swindling money". With regards to this, the neighborhood district office/committee has released a statement showing that the Gao family has a monthly income of 3000 yuan, and their basic livelihood is guaranteed [they already have enough money].

Comments from NetEase:

网易欧洲网友:

面对居民的指责，几名前来帮忙送水的网友并不理会。网友Radon认为，老太为生活奔波，每天送水是事实。儿子孙子有病也是事实。难得的是老太这么坚强。"我们献爱心，是针对事情本身，并不是针对这个人。希望能把爱心传播。"Facing resident criticism, several … Netizen Radon believes, the old lady runs around to make a living, that her delivering water is real. That her son and grandson are sick is also real. What is rare is how strong the old lady is. "Our kindness is with regards to this issue, not with regards to this person in particular. Hope this kindness can be passed on."Everyone knows the deal with medical insurance, and how limited use it is. How can 3000 yuan income including 2000+ yuan earned from delivering water be called swindling and cheating? It looks more like there is something fishy about this district neighborhood office/committee.

网易广东网友:

This society…I'm simply speechless…what is fake and what is real cannot be discerned.

网易湖南娄底网友:

Your efforts to support yourself have determined that you are a strong person worthy of everyone's admiration. Hope peace and happiness for you and your family.

网易江西鹰潭网友:

I trust netizens are not stupid. Support the old lady, life is hard, stay strong!

网易火星网友:

That said, their family is not poor. It is very normal for elderly of this age to work. People's bodies can be trained, and it is very normal for people of this age to be working in the countryside. However, delivering 100 times each day is definitely an exaggeration, and it would mean that [she makes] at least 2700 yuan per month, which in the countryside should be considered well off. Plus, everyone can image what her water delivery fee is. I think most netizens don't even have as high an income as her family!

网易广东东莞网友:

Naked envy, the beast of the district neighborhood office is definitely not a good person.

网易广东广州网友:

Delivering 100 bottles of water in a day is indeed difficulty. If delivering one bottle takes 20 minutes, then 100 bottle would require 33 hours. I say 100 bottles a month is probably more like it.

网易江苏无锡网友:

Ai! The country [government] doesn't do something, and when our adorable netizens donate money you guys don't like it, fuck! A sick society!!!!!

网易浙江台州网友:

Who will supervise the media, who should shoulder the responsibility when the media's fails in its duty?

网易四川宜宾网友:

All problems caused by money.

网易火星网友:

Would anyone envy a truly poor neighbor? The media digs up some news, and everyone leaps to express their concern? The ones who actually know the truth are still those neighbors.

October 12th Beijing time, the Chinese men’s national basketball team met the Brazilian men’s national basketball team in Xuchang, Henan province for their third “friendly” match. Within the first minute of the game, Zhang Qingpeng was knocked to the ground by a covering opponent, and when the head referee did not whistle any fouls, Chinese head couch [Bob] Donewald received two consecutive technical fouls for arguing with the referee, and was fouled out of the stadium. Penalties on players from both sides caused their anger to grow, and during a fight between Zhu Fangyu and his opponent, a large clash broke out with the Brazilian team with a massive brawl breaking out between players on both teams. The game was again stopped, the Brazil team walked off the court, with 3000 excited basketball fans on the scene. In this clash, Zhang Qingpeng’s head was injured and he was carried to the locker room on a stretcher by the team doctor. Twenty minutes later, the Brazilian team did not return to the court. The organizing committee later publicly announced that the Brazilian team had withdrawn from the match due to the conflict, that the game has been changed to a [intra-team] game, and that the basketball fans can get a full refund for their tickets.

Zhu Fangyu caught in violent conflict.

Brazilian team hits back.

Zhang Zhaoxu punches opponent.

The two teams fighting.

Brazilian player knocked down.

Su Wei chases and hits Brazilian player.

Brazilian player knocked onto the ground.

A scene of chaos.

Both teams fighting and attacking each other.

China

Brazilian player knocked onto the ground.

Zhang Zhaoxu

Zhang Qingpeng grapples with opposing player.

Zhou Peng speaks out for his teammates.

Zhu Fangyu leads the charge into the brawl.

Zhang Zhaoxu kicks an opponent.

Brazilian coach very angry.

A Chinese national men

Donewald charges onto the technical table and

There is also discussion on Tiexue (“Is the Chinese men’s basketball team training boxing in the Asian Games“). Here is a video from a discussion on Mop (“Video: Large brawl during men’s national basketball team friendly [match]“):

Sigh, seeing such shameful news so early in the morning! And a bunch of men’s basketball children who don’t know what shame is!

网易山东青岛网友:

Can’t play ball, but they sure can get into fights!!! Other people come from far away, and this happens…next time, if these players happen to get beaten to death abroad, don’t say that we are not patriotic, [because] that would be [what they] deserved!!

网易广西网友:

Chinese players’ characters are as such~inviting others to come fight~~a national shame.

网易辽宁阜新网友:

Full price refunds? But I feel spending this money to watch a mass brawl is much more exciting than watching a game!

网易广东深圳网友:

If you’re going to play ball, play ball, but getting into fights because you can’t beat them? That’s really JB losing face [embarrassing].

网易火星网友:

China is about etiquette/propriety/manners. For them to get into a big fight during a game, the men’s national basketball team has extremely disgraced the Chinese people. If China’s national men’s basketball team’s skill is lower than others, they should have an open mind and learn from others.

网易陕西西安网友:

Since the essence of the match is just a game, is it really necessary to be so serious? [So serious] as to get physical?

网易火星网友:

Chinese people are always like this… Don’t fight, and the internet mob says you’re cowards! Fight, and the internet mob says you don’t have character [are uncivilized]! It is so hard to know what to do, to fight is wrong, but not fighting is also wrong! Hmph! Hmph! Hmph!No wonder back then Old China got played around by foreigners, it is all because there are so-called apologists like you guys, making everything about justice and morality, only knowing how to talk, but never getting any real practical effect. If current society’s moral awareness is really so high, then there wouldn’t be so much unfairness and injustice!!!Think about it! Mob!

If they got into a fight, then they got into a fight… I especially hate those zhuang B people… screaming about not having manners… If there were manners… then during the War of Liberation and War of Resistance against the Japanese… would you go reason with them? Such a SB… Chinese people’s courage and uprightness is getting less and less… cowardly just standing there fucking talking out of your ass without putting yourself in other people’s shoes…

网易江西新余网友:

Is courage and uprightness brandishing fists towards the opponent? This is a sports competition, not a place for you to show of your Sanda, so if you have the ability, then win convincingly on the court! I’m not saying we should treat foreigners as some sort of treasure, I too am really disgusted with that sort of thinking, but competing like this [getting into fights] is bad, tarnishing the sport. Also, please do not be so quick to incite nationalistic sentiments, nothing good can come from that, and not every place needs this kind of sentiment. I trust the players had a reason for fighting, but please don’t use “courage and uprightness” to exaggerate this kind of irrational and uncivilized behavior. The Chinese men’s national football [soccer] team is a perfect example. If you’re going to go out and train [by competing with foreign teams], then do so. Why spend so much money going out to embarrass yourselves [and us]? [It is already known that] your skills are inferior to others and you’re shorter than others [that you are at a natural disadvantage], but getting into fights? I don’t know what you guys are thinking. Thinking it will prove that you are men? That you have courage and uprightness? Ridiculous!